College campus to be closed down to save cash
The Sheffield College says it has decided to shut its Peaks Campus from September 2023, with courses currently run from here to mostly relocate to City Campus.
Peaks Campus, in Waterthorpe Greenway in the south east of the city, was built in 1999 and extended in 2005.
It is currently used by around 300 students taking courses including games design, health and social care, science, public services, apprenticeships and the Prince’s Trust programme.
A spokesman for the college explained: “Compounded by a tough financial climate for the further education sector nationally, including a reduction in funding in real terms and surging energy costs, it is becoming less sustainable to continue to provide teaching and learning at Peaks Campus.
“The campus is highly under-utilised and not efficient to maintain.”
Peaks Campus includes a loft canteen, a social area and a climbing wall but the college notes it lacks usable outdoor space.
The Sheffield College says that in 2014/15 there were 776 students studying at Peaks. But by 2019/20 this had dropped by more than half to 380.
The spokesman added: “The college has begun a formal consultation process with the trade unions and staff who are affected by our plans for stopping teaching and learning at our Peaks Campus.
“We’re consulting with 13 staff permanently based at Peaks Campus who are most affected by the plans, and approximately a further 70 staff who work regularly at Peaks Campus.
“We’re committed to minimising any potential redundancies and wherever possible staff will be given the option to relocate from Peaks Campus.”
The Sheffield College is a General Further Education (GFE) providing academic, technical and vocational training to around 14,000 young people and adults a year.
